Visiting UK from Oz - drysuit purchase advice...

[sheepless]

G'day Graham! Nice of you to mention me in your post

From memory, it took around 4 weeks for my Otter suit to arrive after being measured. The only thing I've found with my suit is that the boots are probably one size too big also, which isn't really a problem underwater but it does mean that I really have to jam the massive boots into my fin pockets, which is a bit of balance and coordination exercise. My friend Lee mentioned something about the socks too so I might consider changing my boots over to the socks.

I think you're a fairly standard size (is that a compliment?!) so you might be able to get away with a off the peg size. They might be able to send you the sizes and if you measure yourself up and you fit into the ranges then you'd be sweet. I think Nic might struggle a little bit more perhaps since she's fairly tall but also curvy, so she might have to go down the MTM route.

I haven't dived with any other drysuit but I spoke to a fair few people before I bought and they all recommended a membrane suit too. And you look way more serious and cool hahahaaaa

[northerner]

Hey Sheepless! Fancy seeing you here!

I get the impression that lots of people have boots that are too big - is this a common problem? I guess people order maybe a bit big 'just to make sure', and then the manufacturers add a bit on top of that 'just to make sure'??? Result - feet rattling around in boots?

Anyway, thanks for all the info so far - no doubt there will be more questions down the road...

Graham

[digital_steve]

graham,
i said it over at diveoz... i'll say it here; Seaskin.
The price is right and the product, by all accounts, is the go.
Mine has just been picked up by fedex, so hopefully i can let you know a bit more when it gets here

[northerner]

Originally Posted by digital_steve

graham,
i said it over at diveoz... i'll say it here; Seaskin.
The price is right and the product, by all accounts, is the go.
Mine has just been picked up by fedex, so hopefully i can let you know a bit more when it gets here

Thanks Steve,

The seaskin's certainly look good, and like you say the price is most certainly right. Looks like they have a bit of a following on here too!

Would be good to know how you get on with it...

Graham

[Treerat]

Originally Posted by dryan

I would go with membrane for reasons stated above.

Don't discount other manufacturers- I see youre from Manc originally, so assuming you will be back there for Christmas.

Theres a suit manufacturer in Liverpool that gets great reccomendations from lads in my club, plus they do a nice self donning black option

Protec Dry Suits

Another vote for a membrane. The wife and myself both dive in Polar Bears.
Polar Bears - The Dry Diving Specialists

Andy

[infernalzen]

Divernet | Group tests | DRYSUIT BUYERS' GUIDE+...

[the goat]

Originally Posted by northerner

We moved to Oz from the UK 18months of so ago and are visiting family over Chrtistmas - we're taking the opportunity to buy our first drysuits whilst over (much cheaper than Oz for diving gear) - so there are a few questions which I hope you can help with.

First the choice of suit. I've read lots on this forum and others and O'Three seems to get continuously good customer reviews - everyone seems to love their O'Three! So would something like the MSF500tb be a good bet? Wouldn't want to spend too much more than this to be honest. Other options are the Waterproof Draco which also seems to keep users very happy. I was also considering Northern Diver Divemaster but have read various comments which put me off slightly - I get the impression that the other options would be a better bet.

The only thing which concerns me about the O'Three is the weedy looking knee/shin protection (something which the Draco seems to have sussed out). There are many, many shore dives around Sydney/NSW coast, alot of which have rocky entry/exit points - think crawling on hands and knees on exit - so this is a bit of a concern. Can anyone comment on the knee protection???

Once we've decided on a suit the next question is do we need to think about measuring up/ordering well before we come over?? We're over for 3.5 weeks but this is over the Christmas break also. Will this be enough time to just turn up to a store (probably one of the ones linked to above) and order one if necessary?? I don't think there's anywhere near me in Oz where we could go and try on a couple of sizes to get an idea... I guess that the measuring charts are pretty accurate so maybe we talk to one of the stores and see if they can make sure there are a few in around our size??

Anyway, sorry for rambling - any advice very gratefully received!

Graham

Graham,
You Sir have obviously become a girl since you were co-erced into joining our Antipodean friends.Drysuit?? Bloody speedos and a flannel is what you re after
Seaskin seems to be all the rage at the mo and I couldn t possibly comment because basically BB and Yas bully me
I ve got the Draco and its fab, does everyrthing its supposed to and is really easy to get on and off(and it makes you look like Batman )
Happy hunting
Lee

[oceanobsession]

Ive got both the msf 500 and the new ri model. my msf 500 is 7 years old without a single problem. knee pads on both models are tough. i dont like membraine suits everyone in our club having to buy new neck and rist seals every 2 years. but in either case fit is everything

cheers oceanobsession

[northerner]

Originally Posted by the goat

Graham,
You Sir have obviously become a girl since you were co-erced into joining our Antipodean friends.Drysuit?? Bloody speedos and a flannel is what you re after

Yeah, yeah I know...

[ChristianG]

Originally Posted by northerner

Thanks for the replies - I will investigate membranes a bit more, looks like it might be the way to go. The Otter Britannic looks like a really good suit too....

Graham,

I live in Terrigal, just up the road from you, in Oz terms anyway.

My dry suit is a DUI Trilam, admittedly fairly expensive (and their after sales service seriously sucks, not just because of their geographical location) but you gets what you pays for. The suit is pretty well bulletproof.

I would not entertain a crushed neoprene suit, not because I don't have one but because a couple of friends went that way (both serious cave divers, both using DUIs) and the things are simply not as tough as the trilam.

As well, and as others have said, you can change the thermal characteristics of a shell suit much more easily than wearing a crushed neoprene. I could easily wear my suit in summer with virtually nothing underneath but I much prefer my semidry in warmer months because I like "wet". The DUI came along only when I got older and more wimpish.

This is not a plug for DUI, it is a plug for shell suits.